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This ordinance 'would close' Newton-Wellesley Hospital

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This ordinance 'would close' Newton-Wellesley Hospital

“The ordnance, as written, would close the [Newton-Wellesley] hospital”
 
That was the message Newton-Wellesley Hospital President & CEO Dr. Errol Norwitz delivered to the city’s Economic Development Commission Monday.
 
It wasn't hyperbole. 
 
Norwitz was reacting to a proposed home rule petition that would essentially ban any use of fossil fuels for new construction and major renovations city wide. (Earlier Globe story here.)
 
Doing so, Norwitz said, would violate federal regulations requiring hospitals to have available at least two sources of energy to ensure an environment for safe patient care in the face of utility disruption.
 
Norwitz also expressed concerns during his presentation (also see this earlier letter) about the unreliability of the electrical grid, which he said has already resulted in past power disruptions that result in unpredictable and immediate closure of critical medical and procedure areas.
 
Norwitz made it clear that Newton-Wellesley Hospital and parent Mass General Brigham appreciated the intentions and the urgency behind reducing the use of carbon fuels. He expressed enthusiastic support of Newton’s Climate Action Plan's goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
 
And he outlined the steps the hospital has been talking to reduce and ultimately phase out reliance on carbon fuel sources.
 
But, as proposed, it would be "impossible for us to function," he said.
 
The home rule petition, which had Mayor Fuller’s full support, was sent back to a council committee last month for review after Newton-Wellesley and the chamber requested more time to provide input. If approved, it would also need to be approved by state lawmakers and the governor.
 
Since then, city officials, council committee members and hospital representatives have agreed to form a working group to study the hospital’s concerns. 
 
And on Monday, the EDC agreed to continue studying the issue as well. (EDC presentation is here.)
 
I'm interested in your input as well.

 
It will be Fuller vs. Sangiolo for mayor
 
No surprise here, but Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller will face off against former veteran City Councilor Amy Mah Sangiolo on Nov. 2.
 
Fuller received just under 55% of the vote in yesterday’s preliminary election, compared to just under 40% for Sangiolo.
 
Perennial candidate Al Cecchinelli Jr. had about 6 percent.
 
Jerrry Reilly at Village 14 has more. Precinct results here.
 
Meanwhile downriver, City Councilors Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George appear to have secured the top two spots in Boston's preliminary.

 
Holiday sales projected to climb (but with an asterisk)
 
Holiday retail sales are likely to increase between 7% and 9% in 2021, according to Deloitte's annual holiday retail forecast.
 
But there’s some important “ifs” attached.
 
Shipping delays, factory closures, logistics bottlenecks, chip scarcity and shortage of workers are all expected to affect this year’s holiday season and spread into next year.
 
And there’s worries about the Delta variant. In July 2021, mall visits finally outpaced 2019, up 1% for indoor malls and 2% for outdoor malls, according to Bisnow. 
 
But by August, however, the numbers were below 2019 again, as they had been every month before July, with indoor malls seeing 2.5% less traffic and outdoor malls 4.6% less.

 
SBA increases EIDL loans
 
Small businesses seeking cash to weather the pandemic can now borrow up to $2 million from the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program starting Oct. 8.
 
The previous cap was $500,000.
 
Loans taken out this year will also come with a two-year deferral on repayments, allowing struggling businesses time to catch up on their bills, according to the New York Times. Loans can also now be used to refinance existing debt.
 
The loan program has been a lifesaver for many business owners, but (as with the Paycheck Protection Program) it's also been mired in shifting rules, complexity and bottlenecks.
 
The Business Journal’s Andy Medici explains the changes here.

 
Employer services available
 
MassHire offers a wide variety of free services and resources designed to help employers, including:
  • Rapid Response services to assist with layoff aversion and transitions 
  • Assistance when bringing back staff as your business reopens or during economic downturns to reduce payroll/overhead costs without losing valuable staff 
  • Business development and expansion 
  • Workforce training and safety grants 
  • Recruiting including Registered Apprenticeships, On-the-Job Training Programs and applying for hiring tax credits
Call 617-620-4695 for details.
 
MassHire also runs weekly webinars for employers on Thursdays. Learn about new programs, opportunities, and updates. Register or access a webinar recording here.
 
 
Get ready for rising health insurance costs
 
The Massachusetts Health Connector has approved an average 6.9 percent premium increase for members whose medical coverage is unsubsidized or who receive Advance Premium Tax Credits, reports Katie Lannan at State House News.
 
With member aging taken into account, the 6.9 percent rate increase for unsubsidized non-group members becomes about an 8.5 percent increase. The premium changes vary by tier.
 
 
Rally for restaurants
 
The Independent Restaurant Coalition is holding a virtual rally today (Weds.) at 11 a.m. to mobilize support for replenishing the SBA’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
 
The fund helped over 100,000 operators get back on their feet. But two-thirds of restaurants (including many of our local establishments) qualified but did not receive grants because the funds were depleted.

 
New name, new members!
 
Any time a business or nonprofit joins our chamber, or comes back after a long absence, means a lot to us. 
 
But this month it's extra special.
 
The 18 new and reinstated members listed below joined in August, making them the first to come onboard since we changed our name last month.
 
Please join us in welcoming the Charles River Regional Chamber’s very first new members!
 
We'd be thrilled to add your company's name to September's new member list. Learn how here.
 
And that’s today’s Need to Knows, unless you need to know which member of Aerosmtih wants to sell you his house and guitar-shaped swimming pool for $4.5 million.
 
Be back Friday!
 
Greg Reibman (he, him, his)
President & CEO
617.244.1688
 
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